New Car Review

1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 AWD Wagon

by Carey Russ

Station wagons may be best remembered as the official
American family cars of the 1950s and 1960s, forerunners of minivans.
But, before mass popularity, station wagons were often more upscale
conveyances. Many early wagons were custom-modified cars used to
transport wealthy customers between railroad stations and luxury
hotels. Despite mass production, popularity, and the subsequent eclipse
of the genre by minivans and sport-utility vehicles, there are still some
wagons made in the luxury tradition.

One such is the new Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon. Mercedes-
Benz has been selling wagons for over twenty years, and has a very
loyal customer base in the class. When the new midsized E-Class
sedan was introduced two years ago, it was only a matter of time until
a wagon based on it became available. The new E320 wagon will not
only please Mercedes wagon loyalists, it may convert people who
thought "sport-utility" for their transportation needs as well. The 1998
E320 wagon, and its sedan sibling, are available with all-wheel drive
for all-weather traction. Both also have a new V6 engine this year,
replacing the previous inline six.

Mercedes-Benz already makes a very good sport-utility, the
ML320, so why the all-wheel drive sedan and wagon? Choice. Some
people need all-wheel drive traction but don't like the access height of
a sport-utility vehicle. The E320 AWD models have normal
automobile ground clearance and are not designed not for off-road use,
but for slippery urban, suburban, and rural roads - the same habitat in
which the vast majority of sport-utilities get the vast majority of use.

I recently had the E320 all-wheel drive sedan and wagon for
two back-to-back weeks. I will concentrate on the wagon, as it is
completely new and the sedan is little changed from last year with the
exception of the engine and optional all-wheel drive system. Both the
sedan and wagon benefit greatly from the new V6 engine. The E320
sedan has all of the good qualities of earlier models, while the wagon
adds an amazing amount of useable space for passengers or cargo with
very little compromise in ride and handling.

APPEARANCE: The face is familiar. In a direct frontal view, only the
optional sport-utility-style roof rack, if fitted, tells that the E320 wagon
is not a sedan. The wagon shares front styling with the E-Class sedans,
but is unique from the windshield back. Like the sedans, it is gently
rounded about the corners. The roofline is highest at the windshield
and tapers slightly to the rear. The taillights are similar in shape to
those of the sedan, but larger. The wagon's inch of extra length is not
readily apparent.

COMFORT: Inside, the E320 wagon is every bit an E-Class Benz. As
is the Mercedes-Benz way, the interior is less opulent than that of most
American, British, or Japanese luxury cars, but it is very well-designed
and uses the highest-quality materials. Leather upholstery, standard on
the sedan, is an option on the wagon. Burled walnut trim is standard,
as are dual-zone climate control, 10-way adjustable power front seats
with 3-position memory for seat, mirror, and steering wheel position,
one-touch up or down power windows, and an AM/FM/weather
band/cassette sound system. The wagon has more interior space than
most midsized sport-utilities, and is much lower for easier access. It is
as versatile inside as any vehicle made. The rear split bench seat
cushions flip and fold individually to accommodate long loads. A
folding, rear-facing jump seat holds two small people in reasonable
comfort. A full-sized spare is hidden neatly and unobtrusively to the
side of the rear compartment. The E320 wagon rates high for
convenience, comfort, and versatility.

SAFETY: The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon has safety cage
chassis construction, front and side airbags, the BabySmart(tm) child
seat recognition system, and Automatic Slip Control traction control.
The standard antilock braking system has Brake Assist to ensure
maximum braking under emergency conditions. All passengers in the
E320 wagon, even those in the third row seat, have 3-point safety
harnesses.

ROADABILITY: Only in a back-to-back comparison between all-
wheel drive versions of the E320 sedan and wagon is the extra rear
weight of the wagon is noticeable, and then barely. The all-wheel drive
system is unnoticeable in normal operation, and sends power to the
wheel or wheels with the most traction. In a wet week of driving on
city streets, highways, and mountain roads, I found the all-wheel drive
E320 wagon to be a smooth, comfortable, and very good-handling car.
It is a far better vehicle for the road than a sport-utility. Several laps
around a wet and slippery Sears Point Raceway really showed the
superiority of all-wheel drive.

PERFORMANCE: Mercedes-Benz's new 3.2-liter V6 is a sweetheart
of an engine. It is lighter than the old inline six, and requires less
maintenance. It makes slightly more horsepower, 221 versus 217, and
the same 232 lb-ft of torque, but maximum torque is developed at a
lower engine speed. The result is much improved low-speed
acceleration for safer merging and passing in traffic. The 5-speed
automatic transmission has control electronics that adapt shifting
strategy to the driver's driving style.

CONCLUSIONS: The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon, in all-wheel
drive form, is a very useful alternative to a premium sport-utility
vehicle.